Tone modulator



Nov. 23 1926.

c. J. STONE TONE MODULATOR Filed Sept. 10, 1925 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITE STATES CHARLES J. STONE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TONE MGDULATOR.

Application filed September This invention relates to new and useful improvements in phonographs and particularly to sound regulators for phonographs, radios, and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which the sound issuing from the phonograph cabinet may be regulated to suit the desires of the listeners.

Another object is to provide a regulator of this character wherein a plurality of sound openings are governed by a manually operable closure whereby to open or close the openings to any desired degree;

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein the regulator is adapted to rotate: in rear of the sound openings, and to move into and out of position in said openings,

A further object is to provide a device of this character which serves also as an ornament for the front of the phonograph cabi net.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying v drawing.

In the drawing:

Figurel is a front elevation of the regulator, in closed position,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same in partly open position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rearelevation of a modified form of the rotary member of the device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the rotary member operable by a pin and spiral groove means.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents the front board of a phonograph cabinet, in which is formed the central opening 11 receiving the operating shaft 12 therethrough. Formed in said board, and radiating from the central opening 11, are the plurality of elongated open ings 13, those shown in the drawing being tapered toward the central opening 11, and having the rounded ends, although any other shape may be employed.

Disposed in rear of the board 10 is a disk 14, in which is formed a central opening 15 receiving the said shaft 12 there-through. Radiating from the periphery of the dish". 14

10. 1925. serial No. 55,509.

are the ribs 16, and secured to the forward faces thereof are the blades 17, which are of sizes and contours to snugly fit into the openings 13. Thus when the disk lies flatly against the rear faces of theboard 10, the blades 17 will be disposed within the openings 13, and their outer faces lie in the plane of the outer face of the board 10. Secured at its ends to the fear face of the board 10, and extending transversely in spaced relation thereto, is a bar 18, in the center-of which is formed an opening 19 receiving the adjacent end of the shaft 12 rotatably therein. Carried by the rear face of the disk 14 is a centrally apertured plate 20, through which the said shaft also extends, and encircling the shaft, between the-plate and the bar, is a coil spring 21, which normally urges the disk and blades toward the board 10, to seat the blades in the openings 13. thereof.

On the outer end of the shaft 12 there? is.

fixed a knob 22, which is grasped to rotate the disk, together with the'blades, whereby to regulate the sizes of the openings 13, and: thereby govern the amount of sound issuing from said openings.

To operate the device, the "knob is grasped and pushed toward the outer face of the board 10, with the result that the disk 14, is moved inwardly and the blades disposed a slight distance rearwardly of the rear face of said board, against the tension of the coil spring, after which the operator turns the knob, to rotate the disk,and move the blades toward one side, or the other, of the openings 13, thus permitting more or less sound to issue fronisaid openings. 7

Referring particularly-to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a modification of the device wherein the blades 23 are secured to the face of a board 24, which is disposed for rotary movement in rear of the board 10, of the phonograph cabinet. Adjacent the blades there are formed the openings 25, which register to greater or lesser degrees with the openings 26, of the board 10. The plate 27, on the center of the, rear of the board 24 is formed with a tubular member 28, in the side of which is formed aspiral groove 29. The shaft 30, which extends through the boards 10 and 24, also extends through the tubular member 28, and has a laterally extending pin, 31 playing in said groove. Upon grasping the knob 32, on the front end of the shaft, and turning same, the pin the board 24. toward or away from the rear of the board 10, to dispose the blades rearwardly of said face. Then, upon further rotation of the knob the board 2 L will be rotated to uncover the openings 26 to the desired degree.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact thatthe parts are so formed and proportioned that when the blades are unseated from the openings, rearw rdly of the board 10, they rotate freely without contact with the rear face of said board, with the result that no scraping action is produced between the blades and board, and the outer faces of the blades maintained free from scratches.

hile I have illustrated the regulators in connection with a phonograph cabinet, I wish it understood that the same is adaptable to radio cabinets. loud speakers, and any other devices where sound is radiated.

In the form shown in Figures 1., 2, and 3, the outer ends of certain of the blades are adapted to engage with the mountings of the bar 1.8 to limit the rotary movement of said blades, with respect to the openings, whereas in the form of Figures l and o, the peripheral edge of the rear board is provided with notches 33, the end walls of which strike said mountings to serve the same purpose as above stated.

The provision of these openings and blades obviates the use of the ordinary swinging doors, with the result that more proper and even regulation of the tone of the instrument is attained.

W' hat is claimed is:

1. A tone modulator for sound reproducing machines including an apertured member, a plurality of closures for the apertured member, and means for moving the closures into and out of said aperturcd member and rotatably with respect thereto.

2. A tone modulator for a sound reproducing machine including a member having sound. openings, closures for the openin" and means for moving the closures into and out of said openings, and transversely there of.

3. A tone modulator for a sound reoroducing machine including a member having sound openings, closures for said openings, and means for moving the closures into and out of said openings, upon initial operation of said means, and for moving the closures toward and away from said member and transversely of said openings, and means for normally urging'the closures toward said openings.

l. A tone modulator for a sound reproducing machine including a member having openings radiating from a common center, closures movably fitted in said openings, means for yieldably maintaining said closures in the openings, and means for initially moving the closures from the openings and finally moving said closures transversely'of the openings, at one side of said. member.

A tone modulator for a sound repro ducing machine including a member having sound openings therein, a shaft through the center of said memb r, closures for the openings, means connecting the closures with the shaft whereby rotation of the shaft will move the closures transversely of the open ings to control the volume of sound issuing therefrom, said shaft being movable long tudinally to seat and unseat said closures with respect to the openings, and means for normally urging the closures into said openings.

6. A tone modulator for a sound reproducmg machine including a member having sound openings, a shaft disposed for slid able and rotatable movement through said member and centrally of said openings, and closures carried by the shaft and movable into and out of said openings and rotatable with the shaft transversely of the openings.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa ture.

CHARLES J. STONE. 

